No one's ever touched me the way Denver Riche did. His hands explored my body as if they owned it. He handled me with such confidence, a gentle aggression that made me hold my breath until his hands were off of me and the lingering sensation of them was gone. And it all meant nothing. I can remember all the times my father told me I was beautiful, there weren’t many. He said it for the first time when I was eight and my mother, Lizette, let me get my hair and nails professionally done f...

Christian had to give it to Aunt Lyn. She was trying damn hard to make this a good Christmas for her and her brother. Liam was only three, so she didn’t have to try too hard with him. Some gingerbread men and the anticipation of Santa’s arrival was enough to keep his young mind occupied for the night. It was enough to make him forget that his parents were dead, and this would be his first Christmas, and the start of the rest of his life, without them. Lyn wouldn’t have such ...

2|SCARLETT I was different. No matter where I was, no matter where I went, I just didn’t fit in. Not even in the comfort of my own home. Especially not in the comfort of my own home.   That morning began like most others. I awoke with a start, damp with perspiration, a sharp pain pulsating through my temples. Abel kneeled at my bedside holding a glass of water and two small, white pills. I grabbed the water and gulped it down without a pause, quenching the burn in my throat. When ...

When the bell rang for first period, I followed the rush of students out into the hall. “So what’s your first class?” Will asked. I grabbed my schedule from my pocket and scanned it.   “Ah, first period…World History with F. Fitzgerald.”   “Hey, I have that, too! C’mon, I’ll show you where his room is.”   Jeremy babbled on about who-knows-what as we walked to fist period. I couldn’t concentrate on a word he was ...

I slowly descended the narrow stairs of the tiny two-bedroom apartment my brother and I shared. It was a drab morning, cloudy, cold, wet, and my first day at Cedar High School. I was dead tired and my entire body ached from the long night Riley and I had before. So far, the school year wasn’t starting out so hot, and I could only hope that morning wasn’t of omen of things to come. “Good morning, Sunshine,” Riley said. He was wide awake, already dressed and halfway thr...

I turned and ran right into a broad, solid chest. Panic hit me in the gut like a wrecking ball and I nearly screamed before realizing who it was. “Brevan!” I cried, gripping my chest. “You scared me! What are you doing here?”   “I told you I’d be back.”   “I didn’t think you’d…How did you even get in?”   “Your window.”   My eyes widened. “You climbed three stories?”   A sm...